Shane van Gisbergen drew attention from Kevin Harvick during the NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway, where the New Zealand driver secured a 14th-place finish. This result matched van Gisbergen’s best showing on an oval track this season, highlighting his growing competency beyond his well-known skill on road courses.
Van Gisbergen’s exceptional talent on road courses has been widely recognized, and his recent progress on oval tracks enhances his potential impact in the 2025 playoffs. Harvick suggested that if van Gisbergen remains competitive through the initial rounds, particularly by the time the Charlotte ROVAL comes around, he could contend strongly for the championship.
Kevin Harvick’s Analysis of Van Gisbergen’s Playoff Potential
Harvick provided specific insight into how van Gisbergen’s oval performance might translate into playoff success. He indicated that maintaining average finishing positions around 15th to 18th place usually suffices to advance past the opening round of the NASCAR playoffs.
I think that P15-18, P19th average running, finishing position in a round will typically advance you through the first round. So, if he can get those P14, P15th finishes in the first round, with the points that he has earned, he could make it through that first round,
Harvick explained, via Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour.
He further pointed out van Gisbergen’s odds of success when it comes to road courses and the ROVAL configuration.
Why would you bet against him? Why would you not pick him on a road course? I don’t know. Why would he not be the favorite for the ROVAL, if he makes it to the second round.
Support and Optimism from Co-Host Mamba Smith
Van Gisbergen’s co-host on the show, Mamba Smith, also expressed confidence in the driver’s continued upward trajectory. Smith emphasized that with fewer than 100 NASCAR starts, van Gisbergen is still gaining valuable experience, and his skill set is evolving rapidly.
At the beginning of the year, we talked about what we thought this season might turn into for different people. When we were talking about SVG, I said I almost have him going through the Round of Eight,
Smith said.
I said, I feel like he’s going to be able to figure out. He’s going to win a couple of road courses. I feel like he would figure out the ovals. It’s getting closer to that.
Like, I’m not going to stamp my name on it, but like he’s — they’re getting better. He doesn’t even have 100 NASCAR starts, period.
Van Gisbergen’s Road to the Playoffs and Season Outlook
With four wins already this season, Shane van Gisbergen has established a solid points foundation for the NASCAR playoffs. His focus is now on honing his abilities at traditional oval tracks, a key to extending his championship bid into the postseason. The upcoming race at Daytona International Speedway represents another important opportunity for van Gisbergen to build experience in oval competition.
As the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship picture remains wide open, van Gisbergen’s dual strengths on road courses and improving oval performances make him a compelling contender. If he can maintain consistent finishes on ovals while leveraging his road course finesse, van Gisbergen could emerge as a significant threat to the established contenders throughout the playoffs.